Gallium and germanium (strategic minor metals)
BOTTLENECKZone-refined gallium and germanium supply is capped by Bayer process and zinc smelting by-product recovery, and China export controls limit global availability.
Extraction of gallium from Bayer process and germanium from zinc smelting and coal fly ash; zone-refined to high purity for GaN semiconductors and fiber optics. Subject to export controls and trade restrictions. China export controls since 2023, full US ban December 2024; Rotterdam gallium price spiked to $687/kg; partially eased under May 2025 trade deal.
What the evidence shows
China accounts for 94% of gallium supply and 83% of germanium, per a European Union study.
mining.comChina produces 80% of gallium and 60% of germanium, per the Critical Raw Materials Alliance.
integralmetals.comWho controls it
No named supplier is publicly confirmed for this node yet.
No independently verified market-size figure is published for this node yet.
Where it sits in the stack
Takes in: Bayer process liquor (Ga); zinc smelter residues and coal fly ash (Ge)
Sends on: Gallium metal (6N+ purity); GaCl3 and TMGa (MOCVD precursor); germanium metal (5N-6N); GeO2 (fibre-optic preform)
Related nodes
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